Conference noted::bicycle

     All I know is what I've read and also a guy that did TT's in Gardner
    had one. They are cast versus welded. This is suppose to supply a
    super strong frame when coupled with the extremely rigid and light
    weight magnesium. The guy Capt. Rick Jones (out of Ft. Devens) paid
    $400.00 (approx. because there was a small scratch on it), but I
    can't remember where. His was white. He really liked it. Like the
    advertisements say, you can't be afraid to show up with something
    different to own one. It's very rigid and light. It accomodates all
    kinds of gruppos and various add-ons. He always ran a disk in the
    rear and Aero bars. He did turn pretty good times with it.
    
     I don't think there's basically anything "wrong" with them other than
    they're weird looking. I see a few here and there in races and rides
    and no has ever spoken badly about them (that I've heard). It's just
    a departure from tubes/butted metal/aluminum that some people aren't
    quite ready for, I guess. 
    
     Can't really tell you how they stack-up because I've never ridden
    one.

    I have a mountain biking magazine that has a test ride of a Kirk frame
    and it was described as a road bike for the dirt.  The article was
    critical of the geometry.  I do not how similar the road and off-road
    frames are.  The article said they were very stiff and expected to be
    durable.  I don't know if the publication is available in Europe.

      I have not heard much about them.  The one thing that I did hear
    was that they are incrediblably stiff, maybe too stiff.  There were a
    few complaints that the ride was very harsh.
    
    						Norm F.

    I've always thought that magnesium was a rather brittle metal.  Whhich
    makes me wonder how these frames will hold up in the long run.  
    
    	-N

>    I have a mountain biking magazine that has a test ride of a Kirk frame
>    and it was described as a road bike for the dirt.  The article was
>    critical of the geometry.  I do not how similar the road and off-road
>    frames are.

	They are the same frame, with no changes except MT bike components.
It really isn't a MT bike, but more of a trail bike.

Also the frames are heavy. A cheap Cromo' frame can weigh less. The real
selling point of these frames is the uniqueness of them and that they are bomb
proof. I heard that part of there marketing hoopla showed a person driving over
the frame in a car and the frame survied and remained true. BTW I think the
frame comes in one size only. Cost too much to make all those different cast.

Tom

    Kirk's magnesium frames come with a lifetime warranty. Kirk himself
    proved how"indestructible" they are by driving over one with his
    Cadillac. Kirk should know plenty about fabricating Mg; the company
    makes cast magnesium racing wheels.
    
    I'll dig thru my materials catalogs and dig up some info on Mg's
    properties.
    
    Gs

    If you want to know what they are like to ride ...
    I know a few people who ride Kirks. They can all
    be reached during the morning/day at BUMPY'S RESTAURANT
    in Marlboro,MA. Phone: (508) 485-7664
    
    They are: Randy Scott (owns restaurant)
    	      Tim Scott (Randy's son)
    	      Mike Josephson (triathlete)
    
    You can tell them that I told you to call.
    Mark Reid
    

    Here's a comparison for the mechanical properties of steel, magnesium
    and aluminum. The steel is a Chromo steel equivalent to Columbus SL,
    the Mg is a cast Mg alloy and the Al is equivialent to T6061.
    
    E	-> Young's modulus
    G	-> Modulus of rigidity
    TS	-> Tensile Strength
    YS	-> Yield Strength
    Bh	-> Brinnell hardness
    SS	-> Shear Strength
    D	-> Density
    
    The various moduli and strengths are in units of 10**8 dynes/cm
    squared; density is gram/cubic centimeter.
    
    		E	G	TS	YS	Bh	SS	D
    
    Steel	19.7	8.27	52.8	29.3	66	60.2	7.7
    Mg		4.8	1.67	27.6	9.65	55	13.1	1.74
    Al		7.10	2.65	38.6	31.7	-	26.2	2.69
    
    As you can see, to get equivalent numbers from Mg to match steel, you
    have to add more metal. But that's O.K. with Mg's far less density.
    That's why Kirk can get away with a solid, one piece cast frame. He's
    also made for a very rigid frame by making a bike frame that looks like
    an I beam (or is that an I beam that looks like a bike frame).
    
    GS

    Heard you need to be 5'10" or taller for a good fit. How about one for
    us little (5'5") guys?
    
    				...Dick